U.S. Department of Education

About U.S. Department of Education

The U.S. Department of Education is a cabinet-level federal agency created by the Department of Education Organization Act of 1979 that began operating in 1980. Led by the Secretary of Education, it sets federal policy on financial aid for education, distributes and monitors those funds, collects data on America's schools, and works to prohibit discrimination and ensure equal access to education. The department describes its aim as lifting student performance while keeping schooling open to learners of every age on fair footing.

Within the department, the Office for Civil Rights enforces federal civil rights laws in schools and other institutions that receive departmental funding, working through a Washington, D.C. headquarters and regional enforcement offices. The agency also handles student financial aid, student privacy, and support for students with disabilities. Regarding New York, the sources reviewed do not confirm a current office in New York State; a 2025 report stated that the New York City regional office of the Office for Civil Rights had been closed.

Practice areas

Areas of work that U.S. Department of Education describes on its own website. They describe the organization as a whole, not the practice of any individual attorney listed below.

Organization profile based on its official website and public sources (reviewed October 30, 2026). Attorney list from the New York State Unified Court System registration data. Not affiliated with U.S. Department of Education.

Registered attorneys

Registration status can change at any time. Confirm any attorney's current status through the official New York Attorney Search.